Ben Zand visits Tajikistan. From enforced beard shaving to being tracked down by the police, he experiences the sinister and bizarre side to living in a dictatorship.
To be honest this seem to me much better than Afghanistan with Talibans or today's Syria with ISIS. At least there is stability and safety as long as you don't go against the establishment. Of course this is not what humans deserve but being near the seat of terrorists this is probably a better life, at least for a while.
Well, to be honest, Afghanistan isn't a real country to begin with. Afghanistan is lost Iranian territory. Afghanistan and Iran basically need another Nader Shah Afshar.
The government is definitely oppressive and strict, but it is a monarchy, so they can get away with doing shady shit without being called a dictatorship.
Because the Tajiks are Iranid people and this Zand guy is ethnically Iranian. They're practically the same. The Tajiks are the most Iranid of the Central Asian people, they have more in common (from an ethno-cultural standpoint) with Iran and Afghanistan than with the rest of Central Asia.
It's funny how the journalist complains about government surveillance, at least in a dictatorship you know that you're being watched. In a "Free Country" they still watch you just more indirectly (NSA).
PackagedDuck lol U K has the most surveillance cameras in anywhere in the world. Put there for one purpose only and that is to watch you. So I do agree with you.
PackagedDuck Also they complain that in dictatoship countries people are poor and goverments are rich .In Free Country people are still poor and goverments are rich
I get that "The West" isn't perfect and I can only argue with my perhaps somewhat one-sided views as I did not grow up in the countries in question. But come on. Unless you plan to go on a murder rampage or blow up people or things, opposition work is usually very positive or sometimes even feasible or required in many western countries. And that cannot be compared to those states shown in the video series here where you simply get threatened or locked up, or maybe killed in extreme circumstances, as I could imagine. There's a difference between some surveillance camera simply watching or recording you (I assume in many states they do not save footage forever, and then again do not analyse it all afterwards to track people without any reason) in London and political youth or secret police in those other countries watching out for any deviation from permitted behavior or thoughts, boys.
Great work Benjamin. Simple and direct story telling. I discovered you accidentally and I'm really enjoying your dictatorship series. Very informative and enlightening. I wish you safety and the best in your work and travels.
He would be detained the minute he set foot in Ashgabat. If the Turkmen police see cameras, they immediately know something is up, and Turkmenistani prison is one of the last places you want to see with your own eyes, especially as a prisoner.
The current president, who is the son of the former president, recently created a new post (the post of the vice-president). Guess who fills that post. His wife, who before that was a long time member of parliament, but was never there and instead was busy being photographed wearing clothes that would cost more than a year's salary of an average inhabitant of Azerbaijan. Naturally, this "democratically elected" president always gets "elected" into office with a very credible percentage: at least 95% of the vote.
Fran well that’s what I’m saying, we need to get the word out. As an Azerbaijani Turk, am using a VPN and if I didn’t I would get arrested, despite the fact that I am 17, which is underage. If you know about Azerbaijan from Eurovision here is a fun but not so fun fact, the Bakı Kristal Zalı, the venue for the 2012 contest was built on a former house complex for the poor, and they didn’t even get any commision from the government even though their houses were destroyed without their consent... Right now, except for Kyrgyzstan in my opinion, every Turkic country from Turkey to Azerbaijan to Turkmenistan are dictatorships. Sad but true.
I guess you didn't watch the whole video. You saw him interview a guy with a beard, right? He has been shaved by the regime once and then left alone. So... it's clear that they don't look at you every morning to see if you forgot to shave and now have a stubble and that they keep tabs on you to see if you are keeping a beard because you are an extremist. Now. in the situation of the interviewer, he needs to stay as non suspicious as he can... he is already suspicious cause he is filming this, but going there with a full beard would be worse.
Well, I just watched this video. First would love to say thanks for making a video about Tajikistan 🇹🇯 I am from Pamir, but now living in Dushanbe. Would appreciate, if next video would be about Pamirian people. Their culture and history, maybe you know that in Tajikistan there are two different types of majorities, Tajiks and Pamirians. About the video would love to say, that unfortunately it is true, in Tajikistan people are not having freedom of speech, the government totally controls the people. Many people do like the president, but many of them don't. But I guess, for our country it's already good enough, because first we were contorted by Russians then we had a civil war and we are also neighboring with Afghanistan, but people are having very good life compare in Afghanistan. We just need a little more time to recover our country fully and to make it again the land of great Persia. Pamir is actually the best place for tourism, but the government isn't rich enough to develop the tourism in there, but I still do love my country♥️🇹🇯 Between if you are interested, you can make some research about Shia Muslims in Tajikistan. It's a great story, we have our Imam who helps us a lot with education and life. It's a very special story☺️You would love it. Have a good day you all 👋🏼!
Zara Azorabekova, I'm Tajik as well and what you're saying is not necessarily true. Yes Pamiri is eastern Iranian language but genetically speaking Pamiris and Tajiks are more similar that you think. Also you are right, being Ismaili in Dushanbe you guys do get more privileges with all the funding you receive. I've literally lost count of how many Pamiris I've seen here in Europe who get scholarships from the Ismaili foundations to study abroad and I think that's a good thing .
Python Sure, I agree about the language. Pamiri language might not sound like Farsi, but people really do. Yes nowadays many Pamirians are living abroad, for their studies purposes or work. True, the opportunities we get is from Ismaili organizations such as AKDN or AKF and many others.
@FZ Channel genetically they are not similar? Yes this is true because Pamiris have traditionally been mountain dwellers where as city Tajiks have over time been mixed with Turkic people to a certain degree. But genetic studies show that the difference is not that big. Davidski has shown that much of the East Eurasian-ancestry among modern day Tajiks is pre-turkic and more scythian/amerinidian like. I would be very surprised if ancient Bactrians and Sogdians lacked East Eurasian admixture. But the turkic immigration later definetly had a genetic impact and many Tajiks have recent Uzbek ancestry. Also Tajiks extremely differ in their East Asian admixture. Some will almost lack it and some will resemble Uzbeks. Tajiks don't have a common origin and Tajik is an umbrella term for Persian-speaking people of Central Asia who not shared a common identity untill recently this is why Tajiks have traditionally identified themselves according to what region they are from. Stop this divide and hate between our people mate.
@FZ Channel The East Eurasian admixture in Pamiri groups probably predates the advent of Turkic speakers in the region, but like Sunni Tajiks of Badakhshan their region fell under the rule of Turkic and Turko-Mongol dynasties and they had contact with different Turkic groups.
@FZ Channel others are not Tajik because they were Turks? Source for this? I come from the Zarafshan Valley and while there are few people with blonde hair and coloured eyes it's not the whole population, It stupid to say the Pamiris or Yaghnobis are somehow more "Aryan"? What does that even mean? You seen like one of those revisionist people
Kvlt Cevii Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy, not a dictatorship. Although, there are exceptions like North Korea and Belarus who claim to have different governments to dictatorships, even though they clearly are
Mongolian Steppe Does that mean that Russian Empire was not a dictatorship? North Korea basically has absolute monarchy, since power is transferred from father to son, does that mean that they are not a dictatorship... There are differences, but core principles are mainly the same.
Hopefully this one won’t get blocked for some reason. And is this Benjamin Zand’s actual RU-vid or a fan? Either way love this guy’s style in documentaries
SUM1 censorship is cowardly. If you think this is propaganda, then make your argument and prove it to us. Don't just remove content you don't agree with. Use your words to make your point.
I think this was, at best, a half assed portrayal of Tajikistan. The least you could do is go to Khujand, too. The city untouched by the civil war and, to a degree, insulated from the dictator. Showing Rahmon`s house on iskanderkul would have been a good scene too.
He went to a remote mountain village, he was almost arrested. Half the world doesn't even know what a Tajikistan is. But we can all agree that this was biased. Not bad, just biased.
ok one: I never said Zand was arrested, I said he was *almost* arrested, reread my comment Second: If you're saying Zand is from Germany, well he isn't, he is from the UK and third: No, Tajikistan isn't developed country, it's not an underdeveloped country, it's a developing country, a 2nd world country. Turkey is much more developed than Tajikistan, Turkey is almost a 1st world country.
No no don't say that !!!! Its all about money those countries give bbc ads ..sponsor their shows or...in return bbc keep quiet and wouldn't say anything ...people loose their hands or beheaded on weekly basis in Saudi Arabia but thats OK...we need their money and oil
Mongolian Steppe do you even realise what's happening. Hate crime has increased so much lately. Saying insensitive things after a terrorist attack is just plain stupid. I don't care one bit that the person is in jail. Is it fair to call genocide on all Mongolians just because of the actions of Genghis Khan and his Hordes? It's not fair to do so. That's why you shouldn't attacking a terrorists religion or ethnicity because it doesn't make sense to do so.
Mongolian Steppe mate I bet you haven't even read the Quran completely. Verses in regards to violence in the Quran is only supposed to be in self defence. The context being there battle of badr when the kuffar aka the quraysh went after the Muslims with the intent of committing genocide against the Muslims. The Muslims were ordered to defend themselves. Bare in mind that the Muslims faced 13 years of persecution without raising the sword
Mongolian Steppe freedom of speech is fine unless you abuse your right with people's getting into trouble or hate gets increased in society which results in attacks against marginalised groups of people for example, then I don't care if such hate preachers get thrown into jail. Society would be better without people who would otherwise cause one group of people to attack another group of people out of hatred
Great documentary as always mate. Just a question, are you planning to make a documentary in Iran? Being an Iranian-Australian myself I loved your Tehrangeles documentary and I think it’d just be amazing to see a western documentary about Iran coming from someone who’s of Iranian origin. Oh and if your Farsi isn’t that great I could always be your translator. Cheers
I was born and raised inTajikistan. I live in New Zealand now so can speak freely about my homeland, and would so even if I lived in Tajikistan. A brief visit to a country can never portray an accurate picture. It is actually way more complicated. The country has suffered invasions and brutal wars including civil wars, economic disaster after the Soviet Union collapsed and Russians withdrew, just to mention a few, I lived through a lot of it. A current presided have done a lot of good in the time he has been in power, considering the challenges and oppositions he was met with. The radical Islamist almost destroyed my homeland and the president does the best he can with the resources he has to control the radical Islamists. We are so quick to criticise our government vs celebrating the good they do. Certainly, there are changes I wish to see in my homeland, but we will get there.
I just got back from Tajikistan and I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!!! I shot my first every RU-vid video there too. Maybe you'd like to check it out - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-9HZQkJrBCZU.html
honesttly ben's western bias is annoying as fuck. i really only watch these videos to get a glimpse of the countries edit: just to clarify: im american myself. i couldnt picture living in conditions like these. but its kinda annoying when he do shit like ask someone how theyre doing and theyre like "im doing great its a lovely day" and he smirks at the camera and makes the most basic ass freshman highschool observations about authoritarianism
Same, these are some interesting countries. Tajikistan has neighbors like Afghanistan, so them being stable and secular dictatorship is preferable to being failed islamist shithole.
Same here. Democracy will never work there. Im from East Europe and democracy has a hard time taking roots here, so is no wonder that in Asia it will be a failure.
The BBC is an authoritarian propaganda machine, no-one really takes this bullshit seriously!! The 'Dictatorship' form of leadership works for some countries and prevents radicalization - by keeping Tajiki citizens on their toes!
The UK throws people in prison for having the wrong opinion. So I don't really understand why this guy is thinking he's not living in a dictatorship. I'd rather live in an open dictatorship than one where the dictators pretend they're not dictators.
I can genuinly feel the scare in Tajikistan. In Kazahstan and Belarus people are at least allowed to keep their life after a protest, not so in Tajikistan. Absolutely scary. It just seems to me that Belarus and Kazakhstan will one day pull themselves out of dictatorship, probably when the old mans die there, but for Tajikistan with youth the way its setup, there's no hope.
The reason that these videos ain't getting the deserved likes is because people don't know about countries like tajikistan , Turkmenistan,kazakhstan or krgystan and therefore not interested
Ukraine is still some what ok than Afganistan, Libya, Syria etc. Imagine another ISIS popping its head in another state, as Tajikistan is a Muslim majority country, what's gonna happen with its poor citizens as well as the spillover on the neighbouring countries.These countries need a stable government which democracy can't provide in times like these when they have a neighbouring Afghanistan and an indirect neighbour Pakistan filled with Radical elements
@u66sa "Native Americans" not "American-Indians", they are not "Indian" anyway.... Chris Columbus was a drunk dickhead.... just correcting your terminology... no offence... peace bro :)
Jay Gurung No terrible, You cant have a opinon on anything, killing people who doesnt agree with you, Also most of the country are poor and starving and only get 800 pound a year!
A Dictatorship in times like this are necessary for countries like Tajikistan when they have neighboring countries like Afghanistan, Iraq , because it keep radicalization at a minimal through the method of keeping people of their toes. We in the West should not be so ethnocentric and arrogant, we should open our eyes and see things from other peoples perspective.
Unlike UK n several countries in Europe which have opened their gates n backsides to Islamic scum from the worst shitboxes in the world. N v all can see how the hosts r suffering now.
Okay! Here are a few observations from one who has lived in Tajikistan. Due to the dictator focus of the programme many points were naturally overlooked. Tajikistan ia the safest and probably the friendliest country I know. I've had run-ins with the Police and it was scary, but that's because the Police don't get paid enough, so they get quite corrupt. Tajikistan is a very easy country to live in in many ways, lacking so much of the "confusion" of the West or the chaos of Latin America, both of which are my backgrounds. This programme is short and understandably superficial. Many of Rakhmon's "mad" laws, like the limit on the number of guests at weddings, stem from a real problem Tajiks suffered previously - i.e. spending huge amounts of money and ruining themselves on weddings. This was something rather facilely described as "showing off", however this idea of "face" is highly important in Central Asian culture. A point briefly touched upon here is the issue of religious freedoms. Not only is religion persecuted, but it is mocked in a very manipulative way. Many Tajik churches and mosques suffer raids and many are imprisoned fir simply believing. Yes, people are afraid to speak out, but they don't have many of the fears people have in the West. Tajikistan is a fantastic place in which to live and to visit as a tourist. Please pray for Tajikistan!
"Getting into these countries is hard" As hard as applying for visa on arrival on a website, paying 50 dollars, and waiting three business days? That's all it takes for most of the world. Great to start off your video with false information.
listen, you're retarded. Visas aren't that simple, and for places like Tajikistan, it is VERY VERY hard to get a visa. Especially if you are a journalist.
Theres a difference between disagreeing with the way a country is ran, and simply downright disrespecting their culture and people. The uber-negative and sarcastic tone of this whole documentary is not only disapointing by BBC Standards, but also puts many of the locals in this video at risk. Youll be fine, of course, because youre not in the country. But all youve done for these people is a) put them online to be ridiculed by westerners and b) put them under alot of pressure by the government of their own country. The biggest role of a doc like this is to both inform its audience, but keep its participants safe at the same time. Youve done neither. Please take a leaf out of your collegues Simon Reeve and Ben Andersons books. Not only do they inform and raise awareness, they do so in a respectful and safe way. Not just 'Hahaha, look at how wierd this culture is' Please be more responable Ben. I dont think youre a bad guy, but your documentary style is very misinformed and I worry for those who partook in it.
This is the first programme of yours I've seen, and the journalism is very good, both video-journalism and how it's presented by (presumably) Benjamin. There was an undercurrent of implied bias against dictatorships throughout though, which disappointed me, because otherwise, I thought it was very fair and considered. I love democracy, but that does not mean that one should present dictatorships as inherantly bad. The instances where it was implied the government were acting against people's interests were good, but not all of your ant-authoritarian statements were backed up with things like this. Really impressive show though, I wouldn't criticise it if I didn't like it.
I couldn't help but notice that even this "Baron" character is afraid to really say what's on his mind. Zand brought up a good point about the distinct possibility of Baron saying something negative about Emomali. But the question was deflected...hard. If there IS a grain of truth to what Zand is showing, then it's no wonder why Baron chose to deflect it. After all, when Big Brother is watching you, you have no choice but to keep your head down. I myself am from the U.S. We are allowed to air our issues with the government. So, in that light, I can't see myself ever living there, let alone saying/doing something to let on how disgruntled I might be with the government there. Scary.
4:00 sometimes it's normal that you're not allowed to even stand on the pavement next to official building this has happened to me in "normal countries" great series of documentary, though :)
I really like the quality of this documentary, but I must say I don't necessarily agree with it. By European standards, sure, maybe this country is a dictatorship. But considering how it borders one of the most anarchic and unstable countries on the planet, Afghanistan, that's been a constant war zone and hotbed of extremism for decades, this country looks extremely stable and developed in comparison. Maybe in this part of the world ruling with an iron fist isn't so bad...
